People Are Confessing The Unspoken Truths About Growing Up In Poverty, And It's A Must-Read If You've Always Been Comfortable

"Recently, people who grew up poor shared the shocking things they had to do to get by that feel difficult to admit now. The responses were raw, powerful, and absolutely eye-opening for those who have never faced financial instability. Comments continued to pour in with more deeply personal stories of survival and the lasting impact of poverty, so we decided to do a round two."

"My parents made us shower at school when no one else was looking during gym class so that we could save water at home. In high school, I used to shower at school so my dad wouldn't bitch about the water bill. I knew things were tight, and being able to shower after cross country practice was a good cost saver."

"Most days, there was no food in the fridge, so I went to the Safeway store and stole things. Once, I hid a package of pork chops under my dress, tucked into the waist of my panties. Back then, Safeway also had a butcher section in the back of the store where you could go and ask for 'dog bones.' I would do that, and even though there was only a tiny bit of meat left on the bones, it was still worth it."

Children and families used stigmatized tactics to survive severe poverty, including collecting cans from dumpsters for cash, showering at school to save household water, scavenging overripe produce, and shoplifting food. Some hid meat under clothing or requested leftover ‘dog bones’ from butchers; small amounts of money covered minimal treats or basics. Hunger, shame, and constant resource rationing shaped daily behavior and routines. These survival strategies reveal persistent food insecurity, utility rationing, and the long-term emotional and practical burdens of living with scarce resources.

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